Current Affairs 4th July 2019
Important Current Affairs
Current Affairs 4th July 2019
NASA successfully tested Ascent Abort-2, a test of a launch-abort system, for the Orion capsule
NASA, UN Space Agency, has successfully carried out Ascent Abort-2, a test of a launch-abort system, for the Orion capsule designed to take U.S. astronauts to the Moon. The three-minute test exercise was carried out at Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Ascent Abort-2:
Ascent Abort-2 was aimed to test in almost real-life conditions the evacuation of astronauts from the capsule in the event of an explosion or rocket booster failure.
In the test, an unmanned Orion capsule was launched by a mini-rocket, a re-purposed first stage of an intercontinental ballistic missile. After 55 seconds of the launch, a rocket-powered tower on top of the crew module ignited its engines to quickly pull the Orion away from a hypothetical rocket experiencing problems. It was tested at an altitude of 9,500 m. The capsule gained two miles of altitude in just 15 seconds. Then the tower reoriented the capsule to prepare it for its descent and disengagement from the tower. In this test parachutes were not used as they are very expensive. Also, parachutes have been tested successfully. The parachutes would open to ease the manned capsule's fall toward the Atlantic Ocean.
About Orion spacecraft:
NASA's Orion spacecraft has been built to take humans far in space. Orion is an exploration vehicle. It will carry the crew to space. It is built to provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel, and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. NASA's Orion spacecraft has been planned to carry the first woman and the next man to the moon in 2024.
WHO launches its first guidelines on self-care interventions for health
World Health Organization introduced its first guideline on self-care interventions for health named "WHO Consolidated Guideline on Self-Care Interventions for Health".
The main focus which depends on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The definition of Self-care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health- care provider.
There will be a shortage of 18 million health workers.
Currently, 130 million people are deprived of humanitarian assistance.
About 400 million people lacked access to the most essential health services.
At least 100 million people face poverty due to the high costs of healthcare expenses.
Self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) and sexually transmitted infections, self-injectable contraceptives, home-based ovulation predictor kits human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing and self-management of medical abortion.
These guidelines made the scientific evidence for health benefits of certain interventions that can be done outside the conventional sector not to replace high-quality health services.
The theme of 2019 World Health Assembly (72nd session) was "Universal Health Coverage"
The main focus depends on primary health care.
It was held in Geneva, Switzerland from 20-28 May 2019.
WHO announced the launch of "Self Care Month" during World Health Assembly (WSA) from June 24 to 24 July.
LEADER OF OPPOSITION
Why in news: Congress seeks Leader of the Opposition post.
Who is the Leader of Opposition?
The LOP is the leader of the largest party that has not less than one-tenth of the total strength of the house.
It is a statutory post defined in the Salaries and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.
Significance of the office:
- LoP is referred to as the ‘shadow Prime Minister’.
- She/he is expected to be ready to take over if the government falls.
- The LoP also plays an important role in bringing cohesiveness and effectiveness to the opposition’s functioning in policy and legislative work.
- LoP plays a crucial role in bringing bipartisanship and neutrality to the appointments in institutions of accountability and transparency – CVC, CBI, CIC, Lokpal etc.
What reforms are needed?
There arises a problem when no party in opposition secures 55 or more seats. In such situations, the numerically largest party in the opposition should have the right to have a leader recognised as leader of the opposition by the speaker.
Besides, the 10% formulation is inconsistent with the law ‘the salary and allowances of leaders of opposition in Parliament Act, 1977’ which only says that the largest opposition party should get the post.
USA designates Baloch Liberation Army as a terror group
The USA designated Baloch Liberation Army as a terror organization on Chinese assets amid an ongoing civil war like situation in Balochistan, Pakistan’s biggest province.
Department of State designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Hezbollah operative Husain Ali Hazzima as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.
BLA is an armed separatist group .
They that targets security forces and civilians which are mainly involved in ethnic Baloch areas of Pakistan.
The designation which is done by the US Administration of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
BLA remains a proscribed entity in Pakistan since 2006.
Jagannath Rath Yatra:
Popularly known as the ‘Festival of Chariots’, Rath Yatra festival in honour of Puri’s Lord Jagannath is grand celebration.
The festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, his sister Goddess Subhadra and elder brother Balabhadra.
All the three deities of the temple – Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra – travel in three different chariots during this festival. The chariots are called Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Devadalana respectively.
New chariots for all the three deities are constructed every year using wood even if the architect of the chariots remain similar. Four wooden horses are attached to each chariot.